As I read, I make an outline for my notes and go through each section, noting the main ideas and details that I think are important. Once I finish reading and taking notes on a section, I go back to highlight some key words and dates so I can easily reference and find them again later. For non-academic reading, I preview the synopsis and sometimes read a few random pages in the book to see if it sounds intriguing. Although people say not to judge a book by its cover, I often do, along with the title. Unlike academic reading, I read as much as I can. Non-academic books are easier to read and retain because I actually want to read them. Based on the descriptions of absent, passive, and active reading in the “Active Reading” document, I would describe myself more as an active reader. Referring to the three-step prereading formula on page two, I already do most of the first two steps. I scroll through the assigned chapter or pages and look at the chapter title, headings, and subtitles. Also, sometimes I re-read the chapter and read the introduction before starting. While I don't necessarily interact with the text, I note key points. However, I never did the last step: